Disclaimer: I don't own the series Dark Angel or any of its original characters. All I own is my imagination and the plot.
A/N: It's been weeks, I know, and I apologize, but I still hope that you have had the patience to wait for this part of the story. :)
Sentimental (part 4)
''You give me warm sunshine when I say I like the moon, and you give me a rainbow when I'm feeling black and blue, but still something's happening; I'm falling, and does that make me sentimental?''
The following morning, Max woke up, once again, on Alec's couch, comfortably positioned and with a blanket that had been thrown over her by Alec somewhere during the night. She stretched and turned onto her side, but didn't get up, even though she knew that she probably had to. She had to get home and get ready for work.
She raised her arm to look at her watch while letting out a moan. It turned out she was late for work, something that didn't surprise her, considering that she hadn't heard Alec stumble around in the apartment anywhere.
She hurried herself to get up and decided to skip the shower this morning and settle for some of Alec's cologne instead. It had a strong smell that reminded her of him. She couldn't remember him smelling of anything but that since she knew him. She kept on her jeans, but changed her shirt with one of Alec's many sweaters, finding one she liked while rummaging through his stuff. She always liked to wear a sweater when it rained. There was some sort of comfort in it for her.
When reaching the door, she found a yellow post-it note on it that she read out loud to herself, ''You're late for work.'' She mumbled something obscene while crumpling the piece of paper up into a ball and throwing it to the ground.
She arrived at work late and ran in to Original Cindy who was late as well and waited by her bike for Max. ''You're late,'' Max said as soon as she parked her bike against the side of the building.
OC sheepishly shrugged and ran a hand through her restless curls. ''My girl kept me up late, you know how it is. What about you? Your boy keep you up late?'' She shot Max a smile to show that she was only fooling around.
Max returned it with a more reserved one of her own. ''How did you know I crashed at Alec's?''
OC tilted her head to the side a little and shrugged again, a smile on her face. ''I knew your boy'd come through. Oh, and the sweatshirt tipped OC off 'cause I know you like wearing them big, but…''
Max's hands found her pockets as she shrugged, too. ''I needed something to wear.
Cindy nodded and put her arm around Max's shoulders. ''Now don't take OC the wrong way. I ain't denying that it don't look good on you,'' she said with a playful tug at Max's sweater. ''But from now on you borrowing threads from me, and you done crashing at your boy's place for the time being. OC missed you, boo.''
Max smiled and the two walked into Jam Pony, where Alec was the first to spot them. ''Good thing the boss is in the back: otherwise, you ladies would be in a whole lot of trouble.''
''Shoot, boy,'' OC began while removing her arm from around Max's shoulders, ''I ain't afraid of Normal. I can take Normal, ain't that right, Max?''
Max nodded. ''That's right.''
''Still, OC ain't gonna take that risk, so I'm gonna get my fine booty to work. I'll see you two later, aight?'' She knocked fists with Max and walked off, leaving Max and Alee alone together.
''So, you cheating on me already, Maxie? With a girl nonetheless? Not that I'm complaining, as long as you two be sure to make out in front of me.''
Max rolled her eyes and passed Alec on her way to her locker. He chuckled to himself and followed. ''You seriously can't take a joke.''
''I take a joke just fine,'' Max replied while opening her locker, only to close it again afterwards as she realized that she had nothing to put in it. All of her stuff was either at her place or she had left it at Alec's. ''I left my stuff at your place,'' she said out loud while turning to face him.
''Including your shirt,'' Alec referred to his sweater she had on.
''Yeah, I hope you don't mind? It's just, a girl can only walk around in the same outfit for so long before it becomes a crime.''
''Nah, it's fine. It looks good on you, Maxie,'' Alec remarked with a smug smile.
''I know,'' Max agreed with a shrug and with a smile that was just as smug as his.
Alec opened his mouth to make a smart-ass remark, she could tell by the way one of his eyebrows was tweaked upwards and how he licked his lips before parting his lips, but, fortunately for her, he was interrupted by Normal. ''In case you two aren't aware of this face, these packages aren't going to grow feet!'' He held up two packages, one for each and gave them both a look, the same look a father would throw a disobedient son or daughter.
Alec rolled his eyes and Max sighed, though both did move towards their boss's direction. They both needed the money, despite the fact that they could easily get it in any other way, but Max was too good of a person to resort to stealing and Alec cared too much about what she thought of him.
Normal eyed Max's attire, but didn't say anything and simply handed her a small package. Seeing the much bigger one in his other hand, Alec stepped in with the intention of taking it from Normal instead, but Normal pulled back his hand and shook his head. ''I don't think so, sport. This one's for her to deliver.''
''What, we have assigned packages now?'' Alec joked.
Normal shrugged. ''It's not common, but if a person asks specifically for a certain deliverer…'' He handed the package to Max. ''This is how we keep customers and increase business.''
Alec snorted. ''This is hardly a business, Normal.''
''You know I could fire you where you stand, but, fortunately for you, I have a big heart.''
Normal pushed the other package in Alec's hands, signaling the end of their conversation and Alec turned around to face Max who also threw her package at him. He didn't catch it.
''You better hope there's nothing breakable in there!'' Normal yelled to them over his shoulder.
Alec sighed and bent to pick it up. He shook the package. ''Well, I hear nothing.''
''Give me your package,'' Max demanded.
''I would, but you heard Normal. Someone specifically asked for you to deliver their package. A secret admirer maybe?''
''Something like that,'' Max mumbled while crossing her arms.
Alec's brow wrinkled up and took a look at the address. ''Is that…''
''Yep. I'm not going over there.''
''Oh, yes you will little lady; otherwise, you don't get paid,'' Normal intervened in the conversation again.
''Fine,'' Max said while snatching the package back from Alec. ''But he's coming with me.''
''Whatever you need to get that package over there.''
Max shot Normal a look before walking out of the place.
Alec got his bike and followed her and the two of them rode in silence until they had reached their location.
Max was the first to reach it and was looking up at the building when Alec came to a halt beside her. ''He did this on purpose, you know.''
''You don't know that, Maxie.''
''He asked for me, Alec.''
He nodded and watched her get off her bike and put it against the side of the building. ''You okay?'' he asked her.
''Yeah, sure, I just want to get this over with.''
''You need me to go with you?''
''I'm a big girl, Alec. Besides, I don't think that that'll help.'' She threw him half a smile before going into the building.
She didn't so much as hesitate before knocking on the door, knowing that she would get through this faster if she didn't, even though she did hold her breath when the door opened.
''Max, hey,'' the person on the other end of the door said.
''Asha? What are you doing here?''
The blond shrugged. ''Nothing much. Logan wanted some company, that's all. So, is that a package for him? He said he was expecting something.''
Max gave her the package without looking at her. ''I need a signature.''
''Oh, right. I'll go get Logan.''
As Asha left to get Logan, so did Max.
Please review? (: I will try to update another chapter as soon as I can, though it will take a while, but I hope it'll be worth it in the end. :) I've also added a one piece that is centered around the pairing of Claire and Zach of Heroes, so if you would be so kind... Let me know what you thought of this before you go on? Thanks.